Odisha CM prays for fast recovery of Hanumanthappa; Sudarsan creates sand art

BHUBANESWAR: As Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad’s condition remained critical, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday joined the nation in praying for the fast recovery of the soldier who survived for six days buried under tonnes of snow in the Siachen Glacier.

“My prayers for our brave soldier #Hanumanthappa,” Patnaik tweeted.

The Chief Minister also lauded the Army for their rescue efforts by tweeting “Salutations to our Army for this outstanding effort.”

Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik has created a sand sculpture at Puri beach of Odisha to pray for Lance Naik Hanumanthappa Koppad with a message “get well soon”.

Pattnaik has created a 5ft high sand sculpture of Hanumanthappa, and he shows the glacier of Siachen with message ‘Pray for Hanumanthappa, Get well Soon’. Pattnaik used about 4tons of sand in this sculpture.

“I pray to Lord Jagannath for his speedy recovery. Students of my sand art institute and hundreds of school children also pray together for our hero Hanumanthappa for his speedy recovery,” said sudarsan.

So far, Padma Sri awardee sand artist Sudarsan has participated in more than 50 international sand sculpture championship and festival around the world and won many prizes for the country.

Read: Odisha CM, PNG Minister, condole death of Hanumanthappa